Shaving-feeder for furnaces.



No. 730,934. EATENTED JUNE 16, 1903.

J. o. LEAEY.

SEM/'ING EEEDEE EOE EU'ENAGES.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 31, 1903.

N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED JUNE 16, 1903.

lNo. 730,934.

J. G. LEAEY. SHAVING FEEDER EOE FURNACES.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 31, 1903.

v 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

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Patented June 16, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN o. LEARY, OF sAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

sHAvlNG-FEEDER FOR FURNAOES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 730,934, dated J' une16, i903.

Application filed March 31, 1903- Serial No. 150,371. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, t may con/cern,.- v y Be it known that I, JOHN C. LEARY', acitizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of SanFrancisco, State of California, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Shaving-Feeders for Furnaces; and I do hereby Vdeclarethe following to bea full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to the class of furnace fuel-feeders, and isespecially intended for feeding shavings, sawdust, and other millrefuse.

The objects of niy'invention are, broadly stated, to automaticallycontrol the supply of shavings or similar fuel and tordraw on thesurplus or overfiow pile as occasion requires.

Myinvention consists in the novel construc-` tion, arrangement, andcombination of parts, which I shall hereinafter describe by reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a view showing in sideelevation those parts of the apparatus designed for taking th'e shavingsfrom the overiiowpile in the shaving-house and returning them to theblower in the mill to be again sent to the separator, said view alsoshowing some operating the controlling-gate of the feeder-A Fig. 5 is anend elcvation'of the oper! pipe. ating devices on the wall of theshavinghouse. Fig. "Gis a view of the feeder-pipe in elevation, partlybroken, and indicating the overlying separator. Fig. 7 is a front View,partly broken, of the feeder-pipe and overlying separat-or. Fig. 8 is adetail of the safetyvalve in the automatically-discharging water-bucket.Fig. 9.is a detail showing the adjustable sleeve f2 of the charge vesself.

Referring first to Fig. l, A represents the mill structure, B theshaving-house, and C the furnace in the fire-room. In the mill A is ablower D, to which asuction-pipe CZ leads Fig. 3 is a plan view detailof'same.

from the machines which make the shavngs. From this blower issues thedischarge-pipe CZ, which leads to the separator E on top of theshaving-house. This separator is a hopper-like boX,so called, becauseinit the air escapes and the shavings drop down through its hase. Directlyunder the separator is the receiving-head fof the feederpipe F, whichpasses down through the end wall b of the shaving-house and down to thefurnace C.

The parts thus far described are common to shaving-feeders, andtheir-operation may be brielydescribed. The shavings are taken from themachines through pipe d to 'the blower D and by said blower are driventhrough pipe d to the separator E, in which, freed of 'the air, theyfall through into the pipe F and are conveyed to the furnace, the

overflow of shavings falling down into the shaving-house and forming theshaving-pile, which I have indicated by b.

Referring now to Figs. 6 and 7, the novel features of the feeder-pipewill be described. It is best in practice to supply the shavings to thefurnace in stated charges at given intervals instead of constantly. Thehead f of the feeder-pipe is provided with a charge vessel f", the openbottom ,of which is controlled by a gate G, secured to an oscillatingshaft g, which passes out through the wall b of the shaving-house. Whenthe gate is closed up to the charge vessel, the shavings will fill itand remain in it until the gate is dropped, whenthey will fall throughin a stated charge. The 'gate then closes again for a second charge. InOrder to provide for intervening obstructions, such as knots, preventingthe gate from closing, I have, as shown in Fig. 9, a guard-sleeve f2loosely fitted around the lower end of the charge vessel and suspendedfreely by a top flange f3, engaging a beadf4 on the charge vessel. Thissleeve follows down by gravity as the gate drops until arrested by beadf4, and as the gate rises to its fully-closed position it simply pushesthe guard-sleeve up; but if the gatel cannot, by reason of anobstruction, fully close the sleeve drops down to meet it, and thuseffects a sufficient closure.

In order to operate the controlling-gate Gr by oscillating the shaft g,I employ devices seen in Figs. 4 and 5. In these figures, b is the endWall of the shaving-house. Secured to the outwardly-projecting end ofshaft g is a lever H, carrying at one end a bucket h and at the other anadjustable counterbalance-weight W. In the horizontal position of thislever the gate G is held closed, and said lever is limited in its strokeat the horizontal by a fixed st op S and at the vertical by a lixed stopS. To prevent. a noisy contact with stop S, I provide an air-cushionformed by a piston h on the lever end entering an air-well S in stop S.The lever H is locked temporarily in its horizontal position by anordinary beveled spring-latch i in the end of a pivotedadjustably-weighted lever I.

.I is a water-pipe leading from any suitable source. lt is in practicebest to lead it from the mains or tank and to terminate its connectionin the heater or pump, so that no water need be wasted. This pipe leadsin suitable course, as shown in Fig. 4, to a point where it willdischarge into the bucket h of lever H. When the bucket receives enoughwater to overcome the locking-lever I, it will descend, thereby tiltinglever H and rocking shaft g, whereby gate G is opened and the charge ofshavings dropped. When the bucket reaches a certain point,its water willbe spilled outinto a receiving-'tank T,from which a pipe t leads to theheater or pump. Then the lever H will return and close the gate G. Inorder to insure the Vaccurate operation of lever H, I have fitted to itsbucket h what may be termed a safety-valve. This consists of alongitudinally-slidable rod h', (see Fig. 8,) which passes down throughan outlet in the bottom of the bucket. 'lhe round portion h2 of this rodwill when the rod is pressed down fill the outlet and stop it up; butthe square portion h8 under the round part will when it is in the Outletleave the latter open. The head end of the rod is provided witha springh4, which lends normally to hold the rod upto keep the outlet of thebucket'open. Now if the lever H returns to its full horizontal position,sok

that the gate G is closed fully, then the head of the rod h', as seen inFig. 4, will press up under a fixed stop s2, which will push the roddown and close the bottom outlet of the bucket, and said bucket willthen iill with water; but if for any reason the leverH does not reachits full horizontal position ordrops back therefrom the spring h4 willhold the rod up, so that the safety-outlet of the bucket is open and thewater will simply run through it, and the governing mechanism will notopbalanced lever Z2, which is connected, as shown, with a valve 7s ofthe pipe J. A second gate, such as R, Figs. 6 and 7, may be placed infeeder-pipe F and used to close said pipe when the upper portion has tobe removed or repaired.

Returning now to Fig. l, I will describe the meansfor disposing of thesnrplusin the shaving-pile. Of course according to the number of,machines working the shavingpile will be greater or smaller. There aretimes when the demands of the furnace will vjust equal theshaving-supply, and at times it may exceed said supply and at othertimes be less-than said supply. In the lastnamed case the pile willincrease from the overflow. In the second case the pile may be drawnupon to ll the deficit. To thus draw upon the pile, I have asuction-pipe N, Figs. l, 2, and 3, having an enlarged nozzlehead n. Thispipe is pivotally hung at n' from a hanger n2, adapting it to swing toand from the shaving-pile. This movement, it must be stated, is aconstant one, for it is only when the suction-nozzle is approaching toor receding fromv the pile that the shavings can be drawn in. Thereforethe pipe N constantlyswings to and from the pile. With this suction-pipecommunicates a pipe O, extending to the blower D. The movement of thesuction-pipe is effected by a block and tackle, which will permit itsadjustment in accordance with the increasing or diminishing size of thepile.

P is a shaft, to which power is le'd. this shaft extends a belt p to acounter-shaft p', carrying a crank-pin 102, from which a line Q extendsto and over a pendent block p3, thence down to an idler-block p4,secured in a second line p5, mounted between blocks p6, and thence overa block p7 and down to its con nection with the suction-pipe N. A weightw in the final fall of line Qserves to take up any slack just short ofthe suction-pipe. By these means the shavings can be returned from thepile to the blower and once more sent around tothe separator andfeed-pipe. By means of the second .line p5 the suctionpipe can beadjusted properly relatively to thel pile and canbe thrown wholly out ofuse when desired by removing it far enough away.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In a furnace fuel-feeder of the classdescribed, and in combination with the blower and connectionsfor'supplying the material, a feeder-pipeto receive said material andconduct it to the furnace, said pipe having a charge-chamber, a gatecontrolling the discharge from said chamber, a rock-shaft on which thegate ismounted, a swinging counterbalanced lever secured to said shaftand having a water-bucket adapted to swing the lever and to dischargeits own contents by the swinging of said lever, and means for supplyingsaid bucket with water.

ICO

IIO

lever and to discharge its own contents by the swinging of said lever, atemporary lock to hold the lever while the bucket is being lled withwater and to release it when filled, and means for supplying said bucketwith water.

3. Ina furnace fuel-feeder of the class described, and in combinationwith the blower' and connections for supplying the material, afeeder-pipe to receive said material and conduct it to the furnace, saidpipe having a f charge-chamber, a gate controlling the discharge fromsaid chamber, a rock-shaft on which the gate is mounted, a swingingcounterbalanced lever secured to said shaft and having a water-bucketadapted to swing the lever and to discharge its own contents by theswinging of said lever, means for supplying said bucket with water, andmeans for controlling the supply of water.

4. In a furnace fuel-feeder of the class described, and in combinationwith the blower and connections for supplying the material, afeeder-pipe to receive said material and conduct it to the furnace, saidpipe having a charge-chamber, a gate controlling the discharge from saidchamber, a rock-shaft on which the gate is mounted, a swingingcounterbalanced lever secured to said shaft and having a water-bucketadapted to swing the lever and to discharge its own contents by theswinging of said lever, means for supplying said bucket with water, andmeans controlled by the pressure of 'the boiler-steam for automaticallycontrolling the water-supply.

5. In a furnace fuel-feeder of the class described, and in combinationwith the blower and connections for supplying the material, afeeder-pipe to receive said material and conduct it to the furnace, saidpipe having a charge-chamber, a gate controlling the discharge from saidchamber, a rock-shaft on which the gate is mounted, a swingingcounterbalanced lever secured to said shaft and having a water-bucketadapted to swing the lever and to discharge its own contents by theswinging of said lever, means for supplying said bucket with water, andmeans controlled by the pressure of the boiler-steam for automaticallycontrolling the water-supply consisting of a valve, a steam-pipe fromthe boiler, a cylinder connected with said pipe, a piston in thecylinder operated by the pressure of steam in said pipe and connectionsbetween said piston and valve.

G. In a furnace fuel-feeder of the class described, and in combinationwith the blower and connections for supplying the material,

a feeder-pipe to receive said material and conduct it to the furnace, acharge vessel in the receiving end of the feeder-pipe, a swinging gatecontrolling the lower end of said charge vessel, a vertically movableguardsleeve loosely suspended from the lower end of the charge vesseland adapted by contact with the gate to insure a closure of the chargevessel, and means for operating said gate.

7. In a furnace fuel-feeder of the class described, and in combinationwith the blower and connections for supplying the material, afeeder-pipeto receive said material and conduct it to the furnace, said pipe havinga charge-chamber, a gate controlling the discharge from the chamber, arock-shaft carrying the gate, a swinging counterbalanced lever securedto said shaft, and having a water-bucket adapted to swing the lever andto discharge its own contents by the swinging of said lever, means forsupplying water to the bucket, a temporary lock for holding the lever inposition to fill its bucket, a valve controlling a safety-outlet` in thebucket, means for holding said valve closed while the lever is locked inposition to permit its bucket to be filled, and means for opening saidvalve when the lever is unlocked.

8. In a furnace fuel-feeder of the class described, and in combinationwith the blower and connections for supplying the material, afeeder-pipe to receive said material and conduct it to the furnace, saidpipe having a charge-chamber, a gate controlling the discharge from thechamber, arock-shaft carrying the gate, a swinging counterbalanced leversecured to said shaft, and having a waterbucket adapted to swing thelever and. to discharge its own contents by the swinging of said lever,means for supplying water to the bucket, and an air-cushion stop tolimit the return of the lever.

9. In a furnace fuel-feeder of the class described, the combination of ablower and connections for supplying the material, a feederpipe disposedwith relation to said blower connections as to receive therefrom a partof the material, the remainder or surplus overowing into a pile, saidfeeder-pipe being adapted to conduct the part it receives to thefurnace, a movable suction-pipe, means for vibrating said pipe towardand from the overflow or surplus pile to cause it to draw the materialtherefrom, and a pipe connection between said suction-pipe and theblower whereby the material from said pile is returned through theblower to the feeder-pipe.

lO. In a furnace fuel-feeder of the class described, the combination ofa blowerand connections for supplying the material, a feederpipedisposed with relation to said blower connections as to receivetherefrom a part of the material, the remainder orsurplus overiowinginto a pile, said feeder-pipe being adapted to conduct the partitreceives to the furnace, a suction-pipe pivotally hung in the vicinityof the overfiow orsurplus pile and communi- IOO eating with the blower,and a haulage-tackle connected with said suction-pipe for vibrating itto and from the pile to cause it to draw the material therefrom anddirect it to the blower whereby the material from said pile is returnedthrough the blower to the feederpipe.

11. Ina furnace fuel-feeder of the class described, the combination of ablower and connections for supplying the material, a feederpi pedisposed with relation to said blower oonnections as to receivetherefrom a part of the material, the remainder or surplus overflowinginto a pile, said feeder-pipe being adapted to conduct the partitreceives to the furnace, a suction-pipe pivotally hung in the vicinityof the overflow or surplus pile and communieating with the blower, thehaulage-tackle connected with the suction-pipe for vibrating it to andfrom the pile to cause it to draw the material therefrom and direct itto the.

JOHN C. LEARY.

Witnesses:

WALTER F. VANE, D. B. RICHARDS.

